Sunday, May 7, 2017

From Sports Radio Host to Rabbi

Definitely not a typical path to becoming a rabbi, says Winnipeg's Matt Leibl

Winnipeg sports fans were surprised last summer when Matt Leibl,
co-host of The Big Show on TSN 1290, announced he was leaving after six years
to become a rabbi.

Leibl admits he was sort of surprised himself.

“I didn’t feel a pull to be a rabbi,” says the 32 year-old, even
though he has been a long-time volunteer at Shaarey Zedek, leading services and
prayers, reading the Torah, performing weddings, officiating at funerals, and working
with teens.

In particular, he didn’t feel he was religious enough, despite
growing up in an observant Jewish home, attended Jewish elementary and high
schools, and speaking Hebrew.

“Never once did I feel myself to be a religious person,” he
says. As he grew older, he “wasn’t observant, I didn’t keep kosher. I was a secular
Jew, culturally Jewish, just like all my Jewish friends.”

“I always thought to be a rabbi you had to be very religious,”
he adds. “That wasn’t me.”

But people kept saying he’d be good at it, that he’d make a
great rabbi due to his natural gifts for interacting with people, along with his
great voice—something that is important for leading prayers and reading the
scriptures.

And so it was in spring, last year, that he began to think about
a change of career.

“I had a great run in radio, but it wasn’t enough anymore,” he
says. “I wasn’t unhappy, but I didn’t know how long I could do it,” he says.

Through his volunteering at the synagogue, “I was working with
people, being part of the milestones in their lives, walking with them through
joy and grief, being involved at a much deeper level,” he says.

At the radio station, he felt he wasn’t “talking about the same
kind of stuff. I decided I wanted something more out of life, to be more
involved in meaningful topics, to interact with a broader range of people
beyond the guys who call in to a sports radio show.”

Last August Leibl made the big change, resigning from TSN to start
rabbinical studies and serve as a rabbinic intern at Shaarey Zedek.

“It’s definitely not a typical path to become a rabbi,” he says
of his journey.

Although he has changed careers, one thing hasn’t changed—Leibl
still doesn’t see himself as religious. But he thinks this will be to his
advantage during his ministry.

Noting that many younger Jews today feel disconnected from their
religion’s traditions, rules, rituals and prayers, Leibl thinks he might be
exactly the kind of rabbi that is needed these days.

“I ask myself, ‘how I can reach people today?’” he says of those
who don’t see Judaism as relevant to their daily lives.

“That’s when I thought a non-religious rabbi made sense,” he
says. “Maybe I could connect with them.”

At the same time, he is quick to note that he doesn’t want to
abandon traditions—just update them.

“There is lots in the tradition that is valuable,” he says. “But
what’s more important is the spirit behind those laws.”

He thinks the things he learned from being in radio will help.

“My journalism background is an advantage,” he says of his work
as a rabbi. “I can read the audience, adapt to it, be a good communicator.”

For Alan Green, Senior rabbi at Shaarey Zedek, Leibl is “a shining personality with a bright future in the
rabbinate.”

On several occasions. Green urged him to pursue the rabbinate. “But
Matthew's world was the world of sports, and Judaism was purely for enjoyment
on the side,” he says.

Things began to fall into place, though, after Leibl came up
with “some bold suggestions to completely revamp our Sabbath and High Holy Day
services,” he says.

After implementing the changes, “the quality of our services
jumped dramatically, says Green, adding
that when Leibl saw how well the changes were received, he “was inspired to do
more. The rest is history.”

With Green retiring next year, Leibl will have more opportunity
to suggest changes; the plan is for him and Shaarey Zedek’s cantor, Anibal
Mass, to take over as co-rabbis.

Reflecting on his career change, Leibl, who is married to
Heather Wadsworth, says he has no regrets.

“Each day is so different and inspiring,” he says. “I love
everything about it.”